The COVID-19 pandemic

[danbrotherston]

Second, this claim that masks are "one of the best ways to keep the number of new cases low" really needs evidence, I don't know of any public health agency saying this in Canada at least, and I really know of very little data at all, to suggest this is the case.  AFAIK social distancing and isolation is still far and away the number one tool for reducing spread.

Distancing is absolutely better than a mask. But when you can't maintain that distance, as in many grocery stores, masks should likely be mandatory to keep people from spewing viruses onto others.

I'm just saying I'd like data showing that's actually effective. Just because it can work in an individual case, doesn't mean it's a good public health policy.